Straight shuttleless looms



w v m G a STRAIGHT SHUTTLELESS LOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1966 m V M G G STRAIGHT SHUTTLELESS LOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1966 i 17, 1968 G. GIAVINI 3, 1

STRAIGHT SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Filed Dec. 28, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3,416,572 STRAIGHT SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Guido Giavini, 2 Angelo Via Olgiate Olona, Busto Arsizio, Varese, Italy Filed Dec. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 605,376 Claims priority, application Italy, Dec. 30, 1965,

12,941/65; Oct. 27, 1966, 29,347/66 7 Claims. (Cl. 139-126) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shuttleless loom including flying gripper shuttle means provided with at least one resilient clip, the shuttle means being sequentially carried up by rotating means and thereby disposed in the presence of a wedge which opens the resilient clip, whereby the weft thread is caused to be gripped, and pneumatic means to maintain the weft thread in a suitable gripping position. The loom also comprises means, movable together with a slay box, to release the weft thread from each flying shuttle means, after its throw through the shed and means for recovering the shuttle means.

The invention relates to straight looms, and more particularly to straight shuttleless looms, most of which are devised by the Firm Sulzer and provide methods for the movement of weft threads that are essentially based on the picking of one or more suitably shaped gripper shuttles across the warp threads.

Such gripper shuttles grip the end of thread which is unwound from a bobbin placed at a loom side, and then are picked, by means of different devices, toward the opposite side of the shed, where they are braked by a suitable unit fastened to the loom, after which they are recovered and suitably positioned for the next picking.

Such Sulzer-type looms, while preventing the drawbacks encountered with the use of a shuttle, present complications as regard both to the shape of the flying gripper shuttles and to the means employed for gripping and releasing the thread. These complications result in high production costs, and frequent troubles and failures of the equipment. In addition, since the devices by which the flying gripper shuttles are braked and the thread released therefrom, substantially defining the width of fabric, are fitted in a fixed position in respect of the loom, time-consuming and complex operations are required when the width is to be changed, since the transverse dimension of the slay box has to be modified thus displacing the whole assembly with consequent heavy loss of time.

The present invention overcomes the abovestated and further minor drawbacks by introducing improvements leading both to a simplification and speedier operation of weft thread transferring means with all required accessories, and the possibility of changing the fabric width by steps much simplier than those heretofore required, and which can be effected in a remarkably shorter time.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved loom of the shuttleless type, having One or more flying gripper shuttles, by which the weft thread is gripped, and can be then thrown through the shed toward an unit designed to receive them, with the same shuttle(s) being received and repositioned while the weft thread, unwound from its bobbin and released from the shuttle(s), is beaten-up by the slay box. The loom according to the invention is characterized by the provision of a device by which the weft thread is gripped by the flying and gripper shuttle which causes the opening of at least one resilient clip secured to the gripper shuttle by the action of one or more stationary or adjustable wedge-shaped d States Patent elements positioned along the path of the gripper shuttle, and pneumatic means ensure that the thread end to be gripped is maintained in the required position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be come more readily apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following detailed specification and annexed drawings of a preferred embodiment and in which drawmgs:

FIG. 1 is a front view of loom according to the invention, diagrammatically showing the path of the Weft thread and of the flying gripper shuttles.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a turret type assembly by which the gripper shuttles are caught and re-positioned for the next stroke.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken the line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on the main axis of a flying gripper shuttle, shown in its normal position, before being picked or thrown.

FIG. 5 shows the nozzle, by which a jet of compressed air is delivered for keeping the weft thread end in the required position.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the assembly by which the Weft thread is gripped and the flying gripper shuttle is thrown.

FIG. 7 diagrammatically shows the mutual position of components of the assembly.

FIG. 8 is a partly in section and partly in elevation front view of the shuttle throwing device.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the device for braking and receiving the flying gripper shuttles, releasing the weft thread therefrom and re-positioning the gripper shuttles, and

FIG. 10 is a front view of the device illustrated in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 1, the loom according to the invention comprises a bobbin 1, on which a weft thread 2 is Wound. The weft thread is brought by a thread guide 3, a series of locking levers 4, clip resetting levers 5 and thread braking levers 6 respectively operated by a suitable series of cams 7 in front of a blowing, thread straightening nozzle 8, operably connected with an air compressor 9. The weft thread is then gripped by a flying gripper shuttle 11 by a suitably wedge-shaped element 10 acting on the resilient clip of the shuttle. The gripper shuttle 11 is placed in the throwing position by a turret 12 as shown in FIG. 2, and then thrown by a device (not shown in FIG. 1, but which can be seen in FIG 8), through a guide-means 14, to a gripper shuttle braking and ejecting device 15.

The thread is then cut by a knife 13 and the shuttle is recovered and conveyed by the conveyor band 16 again to the turret 12 as shown in FIG. 2, the turret is formed with a number of compartments or recesses for the loom gripper shuttles, that are sequentially moved by a rotation of the turret 12 in the direction of arrow X in the weft thread gripping position, i.e. in front of the blowing nozzle 8.

The particular design of the gripper shuttle 11 is shown in FIG. 4. Fastened to the gripper shuttle by a screw 17 or other suitable means, is a resilient clip 18 of a suitable metal, and with one end which can be lifted, to allow a weft thread end 19 to be inserted therebelow. It is to be understood that gripper shuttles having any other design, weight and size may be utilized, provided that they are suitable for the stated operations.

A cross-secti0n of the nozzle 8 (see FIG. 1) is shown in FIG. 5 and the nozzle essentially comprises two chambers 20 and 21. The chamber 20 is formed with annular inlet and outlet openings through which the weft thread 2 is conveyed until its end 19 projects therefrom. The second chamber 21 does not communicate with the chamber 20 and is formed with only one annular opening which surrounds the thread outlet opening of the chamber 20. The chamber 21 is in communication through a pipe 22 with the air receiver, compressor or blower 9 (see FIG. 1). As will be readily appreciated, the nozzle is designed in such a manner that the compressed air blown from the chamber 21 in the direction of the arrows maintains the end 19 of the weft thread in a horizontal position, or in any event in a position suitable for being gripped by the gripper shuttle, along the axis of the chamber 20.

The above action is assisted preferably by means fastened to turret 12, and shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In more detail, the turret 12 is formed with a series of openings 138 out in the areas between the compartments 110 and arranged all along a circular crown 140 whose mean radius is equal to the distance of the thread end to be gripped from the axis of the turret 12. The openings are suitably connected with a vacuum source to cooperate with the action of the nozzle 8 to maintain the weft thread in the desired position, before being gripped by the related flying shuttle. Further openings 150 are formed in the turret 12 in only one side of the inside of an individual housing 110, in one side, i.e. in the trailing side with respect to the direction of rotation of the turret, as indicated by arrow X. The openings 150 through which air is also assisted, are designed for guiding the thread and for maintaining it adherent to its related surface after having been cut, and while it is moved backward under the action of the lever to attain its gripping position. Additional openings 160 are also provided to assist the above operation, and to prevent the thread from passing over sharp corners which might damage the thread while moving backward.

The arrangement required to obtain the stated aspirating action through the openings 130 and 150 is shown in FIG. 3. As disclosed in FIG. 3, an axial duct 170 extending from each opening 130 is connected with a radial duct 180 leading into a manifold duct 190 formed inside of the hub of the turret 12 which is rotatably fitted by bearings 200 and 210 on a journal box 220 and stationary shaft 230. It will be appreciated that the turret 12 is supported for rotation about the shaft 230 and the open end of the manifold duct 190 is connected to a vacuum source (not shown). Also, communication is provided between the duct 190 and the ducts 170 and 180 via perforations 190a. The openings 130 face the weft thread end 19 and hence the aspirating effect at the opening 130 maintains thread end 19 straight and positioned to be engaged by the resilient clip 18 of the shuttle 11. The direction of the air aspiration in ducts 170, 180 and 190 is indicated at Y in FIG. 3 and the device by which the gripper shuttles 11 are then thrown through the shed. The shuttle(s) 11 supported by the turret 12 comes into contact with the wedge 10, by which the resilient clip 18 is raised; then it is moved in front of the nozzle 8, whereby the end 19 of weft thread is inserted below the clip 18 and is gripped therein by the blade when released. The wedge is so mounted as to be engaged by the resilient clop as the shuttle 11 is carried about in the compartment 110 (FIG. 2) of the turret. The clip 18 is caused to open as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 4 immediately upstream of the position at which the weft thread end 19 is ready to be grasped. The clip snaps closed about the end 19 when disengaged from the wedge 10. The shuttle is thus ready to be thrown through the shed under the action of picker 23 which, as shown in FIG. 8, is provided with a Nylon pad 24 at its outer end, and is operated by a piston 25 driven by the air that is compressed by a piston 29 in a cylinder 27, provided with a cooling jacket 28, and delivered to the said piston 25 through a pipe 26.

The piston 29 is in turn connected via an articulated joint with a control lever 30 pivoted as at 31 on a pin, and is maintained under the action of pressure springs 32, whereby the piston 29 is forced downwardly. The piston control lever 30 is fitted an adjusting screw 33, and with a roller or bearing 34 designed to act as a follower for a cam 35. The cam 35 is keyed on the motor shaft, whereby the piston 29, and thus the picker 23 are actuated in the right moment. Obviously, a return pipe 42 leads from the chamber for piston 25 to the cylinder 27.

The device by which the flying gripper shuttle is braked and is brought, after having released the weft thread therefrom, to conveyor band 16, is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Such device comprises a braking shoe 36 of polytetrafluoroethylene or of another suitable material, that is maintained in place by a spring 37, and can be opened by means of a lever 38. Moreover, levers 39 and 40, respectively act upon the resilient clip 18 and the flying gripper shuttle 11, in order to release the weft thread, and to drive the shuttle into a channel 41, by which it is conveyed immediately above the conveyor band 16. The three levers 39, 38 and 40 are operated in sequence, at the very moment in which the assembly that follows the motion of slay box (to which it is preferably secured) is thrown down. By this motion, the three levers are operated in the stated sequence by an expressly provided lever which comes to rest against a suitably shaped member secured to the loorn through the action of one or more cams or crank gears. As a result the flying gripper shuttle, after having released the thread gripped therein, is disengaged from the braking shoe, driven into the channel 41 and finally recovered by the conveyor band 16. The mechanism by which the three levers are driven is not shown in the drawing-since it may be of any already known type suitable for the stated purpose.

As regard to the operation of the loom, it will be noticed that the weft thread 2 unwound from the bobbin 1 upon reaching the nozzle 8 is supported by the blown and aspirated flow of air, and then gripped by the resilient clip of the shuttle 11. At this moment (see FIG. 8) the cam 35 operated by the motor shaft allows for a downward motion of roller 34, and piston 29 which in turn, through the pipe 26, causes the operation of piston 25, and thus of the picker 24, thereby throwing the shuttle 11 along the guide defined by suitably shaped elements to the braking shoe 36. Then, the slay box and the assembly as shown in FIG. 9 are caused to perform a beatingup motion as already well known to thereby bring the newly laid weft thread into firm contact with the already woven fabric. An expressly provided lever is also operated against a sprag fastened to the loom, whereby the levers 39, 38 and 40 are operated in sequence, thus releasing the thread, disengaging the shuttle and conveying it to the conveyor band 16. The shuttle is next moved to the turret 12 ready for the next cycle of operation, while on the opposite end, the weft thread is cut by the knife 13 and brought into the gripping position by the lever 5. As readily appreciated, more than one flying shuttle is usually utilized, in order to speed-up the above described operations to the highest possibe degree. It should be mentioned that the openings together with the openings 130 constitute inlets for a network of ducts (170, through which a suction is applied in the region of the openings. When a shuttle has been thrown, the knife 13 severs the thread and a part of the thread remains to the left of the position of the knife (FIG. 1), namely along the compartment 110 from which the shuttle 11 has been thrown. The suction in the compartment causes the leading end of the severed thread to remain straight and properly positioned.

The shuttles 11 are positioned in the compartments 110 by the conveyor 16 which moves in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 1). Upon release of the breaking shoe 36 (FIGS. 9 and 10) and the resilient clip 18 via lever 39, the levers 40 discharge the shuttle into the channel 41 for deposit onto the conveyor 16. The conveyor carries the shuttles toward the turret 12 and a shuttle is caused to enter a compartment 110 as soon as a compartment is aligned with the direction thereof.

It is to be noticed that, due to the particular conformation which results at either end of the fabric piece, wherein the weft thread protrude outwardly by a given length, the loom is fitted with a device by which the weft threads and warp threads are bonded with one another, such as by gluing, chemical reaction or heating (when it is matter of thermoplastic threads) at the end selvedges, which can be then cut, at least partly to trim the weft threads without causing frays or the like.

While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purpose of illustration only, with the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

WhatI claim is:

1. In a loom having a stationary weft supply, a shed, flying gripper shuttle means for successively pulling lengths of weft thread from said supply across said shed, throwing means for successively throwing individual gripper shuttle means across shed, cutter means for cutting the thread length pulled across the shed from said supply and forming a thread leading end positioned for gripping thereof by a subsequently operated gripper shuttle means, gripper shuttle means recovery and recycling means for successively carrying same a ong a defined path in throwing position, each gripper shuttle means having a resilient clip positioned to engage a positioned thread leading end at said throwing positon, at least a stationary wedge shaped member positioned in said defined path to engage and open said resilient clip preparatory to gripping of said thread leading end, pneumatic means operable to position said thread leading end for gripping thereof, said gripper shuttle means recycling means comprise a rotary turret having gripper shuttle compartments thereabout for successively carrying gripper shuttes at said throwing position, and said pneumatic means including aspirating means in said compartments.

2. The loom as claimed in claim 1 in which said aspirating means comprise duct means connected to a source of vacuum and having inlet openings in the walls of said compartments.

3. The loom as claimed in claim 1 in which said aspirating means comprise duct means connected to a source of vacuum and having inlet openings facing the positioned thread leading end.

4. The loom as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said rotary turret is supported for rotation about a tubular shaft and a cylindrical wall is provided with said compartments, said aspirating means comprise ducts formed through said wall, each having an inlet in at least one of said compartments and an outlet in a space confined within said wall and said tubular shaft, said shaft having its interior connected to a source of vacuum and passages for vacuum communication between said interior of the shaft and said space.

5. In a loom having a stationary weft supply, a shed, flying gripper shuttle means for successively pulling lengths of weft thread from said suppy across said shed, throwing means for successively throwing individual gripper shuttle means across the shed, cutter means for cutting the thread length pulled across the shed from said supply and forming a thread leading end positioned for gripping thereof by a subsequently operated gripper shuttle means, gripper shuttle means recovery and recycling means for successively carrying the same along a defined path in throwing position, each gripper shuttle means including a body having a stepped end portion and a resilient clip positioned in said stepped end portion for engaging a positioned thread leading end at said throwing position, at least a stationary wedged shaped member positioned in said defined path to engage and open said resilient clip preparatory to gripping of said thread leading end, and pneumatic means operable to position said thread leading end for gripping thereof.

6. The loom as claimed in claim 5, including mechanical braking means for the gripper shuttle means, said braking means comprising a shoe of resinous material, spring means connected to the shoe for maintaining the shoe in braking relation to the shuttle means, and lever means operably related to the shoe for moving the shoe away from shuttle means against the action of the spring means.

7. The loom as claimed in claim 5 in which the recovery and recycling means include a guide channel, a conveyor operably related to the guide channel for returning the shuttle means for subsequent throwing across the shed by said throwing means, a first curved wedge-like lever for raising the resilient clip and disengaging the thread leading end therefrom, and a pair of levers for throwing the shuttle means into the guide channel for deposit on said conveyor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,420,380 5/1947 Moessinger 139126 3,203,452 8/1965 Suaty 139127 P 3,263,705 8/1966 Rossmann 139122 3,315,709 4/1967 Suaty.

FOREIGN PATENTS 935,256 8/1963 Great Britain.

971,564 9/1964 Great Britain. 1,440,165 4/1966 France.

HENRY S. IAUDON, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 139183 

